Story ID: 
FAA Providing Resources, Leniency during Crisis
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The FAA has received an array of requests for leniency during the Covid-19 crisis and says it is working to get through them.
Word Count: 250
The FAA is continuing to push out more exemptions, deviations, and legal opinions to enable the aviation industry to continue to operate during the Covid-19 crisis. These come as the agency has received numerous requests from most corners of the industry facing deadlines in the next several months pertaining to their certifications, but unable to meet them. “The FAA is proactively taking steps to help address the widespread economic and health effects that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the aviation industry,” the agency reassured.

Some of these efforts are consolidated into a web page that lists as many as 16 temporary relief measures—with more anticipated—covering training requirements, medical mandates, training schools and centers, and repair stations. Much of the leniency listed surrounds training operations—there are exemptions related to required use for emergency equipment—such as oxygen masks—in Part 135 and 121 training, extensions for currency requirements for Part 135 and 121, and deviations surrounding Part 142 training centers and aviation maintenance technician and dispatcher training, among others.

In addition, a deviation provides extends certification of Part 145 repair stations in international locations and a legal opinion informs that FAA will not enforce medicals expiring through June 30.

But the FAA also has listed numerous other resources covering construction projects, drone operations, drug and alcohol testing, among others. And more are anticipated. “The FAA continues to evaluate a large number of requests from across all aviation industry sectors to help address Covid-19-related effects,” it said.